Runner for turbines



June 3,193 0;-

I L. F. MOODY I 1,762,124

RUNNER FOR TURBINES I Original Filed April 15. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1ATTORNEY June 3, 1930. L. F. MOODY RUNNER FOR TURBINES Original FiledApril 15 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 f w w m i m la 4\aflllllliflilllllillllllllllilllir \f: 1 1

ATTORNEY June 3, 1930. L. F. MOODY RUNNER FOR TURBINES Original FiledApril 1 1922 s Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR lem'd 1T Mody \4 kflw i ATTORNEY;

' 20 it is; the vanes which 25 relation to the *flow and I Patented June3,

" Em we ami E .Origina] application filed 1 122,'Se

- [1926; Seria1 This invention relatesto hydraulic tur .bines and to theformation ofthe rotary element or runner of turbines or-pumps andparticularly to runners of the unshrouded 5 blade type. In priorpractice it has-been usual to form the runners of "turbines or pumpswith the blades or vanes in one -inte 4 gral casting or inseparablyConnected to the hub so that itis necessary to provide for. re-

moval of the whole runner as a unit'for repair or replacement. Inmanyinstallationsthis greatly increases the cost of theturb'ine or pump, andit is highly desirable to'be able: to remove the runner vanes"separately and then,

; necessary, to removerthe hub. If a, vane'is injured by striking anobstacle, if'c orrosion occurs, if the vane shape is 'tobe changed bychipping to alter or'correc't the operating characteristics, in any. ofthese contingencies require removal and not the whole runner. I!

One object of the invention is to provide a runner in whichthe bladesections are adjustable so as to "vary the blade angles with permit theoperating characteristics to be changed.. 1..

In the accompanying; drawings illustrating the invention,f

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional viewlo'f a tlllf bine-structure showing arunner formed-"in accordance with this invention. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional'view of a' blade of the runner of Fig.1.'1 r V Figs. 3 and tarea plan and sectional eleyation ofarunnerillustrating a modification,

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views illustrating a further modifiedform. J Figs. 8, 9 and'lO are sectional views illus-' trating anotherform of runner, and 1 I Figs. lland 12 are elevational and sectionalviews, respectively, of a further. modi-' afication.

, In the embodiment of the inventionshown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flowentering through the adjustable guide vanes passes downward. and inwardthrough the blades 51 of the runner R and out through draft tube. (Z;The blades 51 are detachable and adjustable and are rotatably held inthe hub 52 by a j0ur- 4 50 :nalorpintle engagedby the setscrw: 56.

The surface 5 blades 51- a're shaped to' conform to the-sphericalsurface 54ofthehub-52"so as to contact arched to give a sufficientthickness to 'the. blade at its junction with the pintle-to avoid rbreakage at this point. Under'th'e pressure w of theflow againstthefront surface 7 of the bladeythe'front" elements at' the' area ofat- 66twhile the rearfelements are'under compres- F riaIINO. 553,294..Divideaax'i'athis aip neaaoafa ea;Jim; i i,

4 of the hub' 52 spherical I around a'center formedby the intersectionof 4 the vertical axis of the-runner with the axis of the pintle 55.wThefinneredges of the therewith inall adjustmentsi Thefr'ont face: f ofeach blade 5 l is approximately flat as shown inFigQQ while thejb'acksurface 6 "is tachment to the pintlei55 are under ten'sion'at sonata a VIn the modified form'shown' in Figs'.-3

and l'th ere are'vfour'blades66extendingin a Q i diagonal directiondirectly across the" diagoa nally inward fiowlinesI .The central hub'vane to either si'de 'of a designed central' position, the vaneandpintle turning. as at whole po'rtionfiO ada'ptedfof keying to theshaft'is of generally "conical-form and 'is, q'r'ovided; ,with fourinclined'fcircular recesses 61in J which are rotatably fittedjthepintles 62 o 'thevane sections. ""Set b'0ltsf63 are" provided havingtheirf'inn'er ends engaging in grooves 7 :64fin' pintles 62 and "theirheads countersunk in recesses"6 5 atthe top iot-the hub 60.- g The 180=a's 'to permit a slight angular rotation -of the:

aro und'the agzis of the pintle 62: These pintles have their axesinclinedat an angle toia' plane perpendicul'ari to the 'axi'szotthesrunne'r and the' pintle axes are "substantia'1ly.-pei pendicular.;t0,-':tl1e elements-ofthe: conical surface of the hub intersected bylthemi In order to adjust ithese vanes it is: onlyneces- .sary toloosenlthe' set-bolts 63', turn the, vanes,

and then reset 'theset-bolts I v to'holdtlievanes inadjustedpositions; 1

"InFigs. 5 to. 7 'the'runner hub 70 ofcon -ical formhasffour'taperedfcircular recesses 71 in which are fitted taperedcircular disks 72 carying vanes'73 which-are thus rotatable about aninclined axis 7 4'. To holdthevanes in adjusted positionibolts-i' 5are'mprovided passing; through slots 76 of the disks-72 and.

serving when tightened to clamp said disks tightly in said recesses.

- In the modified form of runner shown in Figs. 8 to 10, the hub 7 8 isprovided with three circular recesses "79 in which are fittedannularclamplng rings 80 within which in turn 'are rotatably fitteddisks 81 of vanes 82,

connection of the disk with the blade so as to attain a strongconstruction.

In the runner shown in Figs. 11 and 12,

a shaft 85 carries a central hub portion-86 of generally conical formkeyed to the taper- "ing end of the shaft. The hub portion 86 has. aseries of fourcircular recesses 87in V whichare rotatably fitted thedisks 88 of the blade sectionshaving vanes 89.

V A lower holding .ring 90 is fitted to the lower half, of the-hubportion 86 and has its upper edge horizontal and cut out insemi-circular form fitted to the periphery of the secondary disks '91'of the blade sectionsand overhanging the lower halves of the maindisks88. Fitted to the. upper half of the hub section 86 are a series ofsegmental plates 92 each of which has its lower edge out out in asemi-circle. Ameeting. with the corresponding sem1-c1rcle the lower ring:90 andfittingthe remaining half of'the secondary disk9l. A cap :member93 havinga depending flange 94 fits over the top of the hub portion 86and retains the plates 92 by their engagement under the flange94..Loeking bolts 95are provided passing through slots in disks-91, 88 andserving 'to elampthe disk and blade section securely in adjustedposition. 7 t a In all ofthe modified forms the exposed surfaces of thevane sections are rounded off tororrcspond to. the conical formation ofthe ,hub and .to give smooth unobstructive flow lines Thefeature ofadjustability permits .the runner characteristics to be 'altere d toconform toparticular conditions of individual installations. In case ofchange of head or-quantity of water available the blades may .be shiftedto take advantage of the change and at the same time maintain theefliciency of the turbine. The a'djustability of the runnervanes mayalso be used to test out the performance of the turbine for variousinclina- 'tions of. the blades and I for various settings -of theturbine gates.

' The adjustable bladed runners of this in- -vention are adapted foranew method of testing turbines and a new method of developing improvedturbine designs. The large number of variables entering into hydraulicturbine design and thelarge part played by hydraulic surface friction,particularly in the performance of turbines of the high speed type hereinvolved, introduce uncertainties and make it difiicult to determine thebest design of turbine. The method of this invention consists inequipping a small test turbine with runner blades of a given clesign andthen making a complete test of the turbine withthe blades in each of anumber of different angular positions by rotatably adjusting them in thehub, as above described. It has been found that' in the majority ofcases a. maximum angular adjustment of about twenty degrees is amplysuflicient to cover the useful range of performance. The

work of experimental development can be conveniently conducted by firstplacing the blades in one position and determining the performance ofthe turbine for various 311- gles of the guide vanes fromclosedto'wideopen position. The runner blades are then adjusted by. rotatingthrough an interval of five degrees frointhe first position and theentire test repeated. Asimilar procedure is followed for each fivedegree-interval through therange of adjustability. From these tests,complete curves of performance can be drawn showing the range ofperformance to be secured from the given design of blade. The runner forany required installation can be designed by selecting the most suitableangle of inclination of the runner blades from these data, therunner forthe installation being then built either with adjustable, ornon-adjustable blades, and with either an integral or sectional runnerconstruction, as the conditions may require.

In'theforms of runner illustrated herein, the vanes are of the generallydiagonal type, extending directly across the diagonally inwva rd anddownward flow linesand having their shape conforming to substantiallystraight line directrices.

This application is a division of the copending application of L; F.Moody, Serial No. 553,294, filed April 15, 1922, for Runner forturbines.

I claim:

1. The combination in a hydraulic turbine comprising a flow conduit anda runner disposed therein having a central hub portion of generallyconical form, a pluralty'of separable vane sections detachably fitted insaid hubportion and rotatably adjustable with relation thereto aroundaxes perpendicular to theelements of the conical surface of the hub.

2. The combination in a hydraulic turbine cmprising a flow conduit and arunner disposed therein having a central hub portion of generallyconical form, a pluralityof separable vane sections detachably fitted insaid hub portion and rotatably adjustable with relation thereto aroundaxes perpendicular to the elementsof the conical surface of the hub,

andimeans forfastening said vane sections hub portion and rotatablyadjustable with relation thereto around axes, perpendicular to theelements of the conical surfaceof the hub, and means for fastening'saidvane.

' sections rigidly in adjusted position comprising pivot portions on thevane sections and bolting means adapted to grip said pivot p orv V tionsin a direction having a component axial- 1y of said pivot portions,

4. In a runner for a turbine the combination with a central hub portion.of a plurality of separable vane sections'detachably fitted in said hubportion and rotatably adjustable, through a small angle with relation.to said hub portion, around axes inclined to a' fiame perpendicularto-the axis ofthe runner, said vane sections being disposed thesa'meradial usted. i

distance from the runner axis forvarious' ad justinents thereof andmeans for'fastening' said vane sections'rigidly'in adjusted position byexerting a clamping "force on said vane section in substantially thedirection of the axis about which said vane section is ad- 5. In arunner of separable vane sections detachably fitted in said hub portionand rotatably adjustable, through an angle not'exc'eeding twenty degrees-with relation: to said hub portion, around axes inclined to a flameperpendicular V to the axis of the runner, clearance beingprovidedbetween said vane sections and said hub portion just sufficientto permit said'angular motion and at least a portion of said clearancebeing maintained constant for various. adjusted positions ofsaid-vanesections, and

means for fastening said vane sections'rigidly in adjusted position,each of said vane sections including a blade extending substancomprisinga flow passage, arunner hav1ngt1s15 blades, disposed in said passage,and means I "for supporting said blades foradjustment I tially in thedirection ofthe axis about which the vane is adjusted.

6. The combination 1n a hydraulicturbine comprising a flow' passage, arunner disposed therein having a central-hub portion, avseries ofindependently rotatable vane sectionsfdetachably fitted in said hub androtatably ad justable with relation thereto around axes inclined to aplane perpendicular tothe axis ofthe runner, and aseries of boltspassing through said sections'and threaded into said hub to clamp saidsections in adjusted posi-- tion. v V r 7. The combination in ahydraulic turbine runner comprising a central hub portion, a

series of independently rotatable vane secsaid, hub to clamp saidsectionsrin adjusted operating'recess, and clamping bolts extending'through said disk into saidlhub to clamp said sections in, adjustablevposition 7 j 9;, The combination in a hydraulic turbine runnercomprising a'centralihub portion 'of lvane sectionsfitted in said hubportion and;-

for a turbine the combina tion with a central hub portion of apluralityaxes inclined toia plane perpendicularto' the j axis'of the runner, anda series of bolts xpassing-through said sections and threadedginto" 7position, said sections being provided-x with elon gated openings forsaid. bolts. 1

8. The combination in a hydraulic-turbine runner comprising a centralhubportion of generally conical form and provided with recesses, of a,series ofadjustablevane sections fitted in said recesses. and rotatablyadj 1stable ,with relation thereto around axes pert-V ,pendicular to theelements of the. conical sur-' face of the hub, each vanesectionfcarryinga disk 5 havingsmooth peripheral supporting 7 surfacesfor contact with-.thewalls of itscO- generally conical form, vaseries-of adjustable rotatablyf adjustable with relation thereto aroundaxes perpendicular .to the elementsoif the conical surface ofthe hub,each vane sec-' tion carrying adisk provided with elongated openingstherein and clamping bolts extend-1 ing. through said openings andthreaded into said hub. to clamp said sections inadjustable position; Ia i .Y.

10. The' combination in a" high specific speed substantially axial flowpropeller type hydraulic turbinecomprising aflow passage,

' a runner disposed in said passage andlhaw ing'a hub carrying asubstantially small numberzofunshrouded blades which arerelative- :lyflat in the edirection of-fiow thereover; andg rj means for supportingsaid blades'for adjust ment around axes inclined-to the runner axis, I rI reach of saidibl'ades extending {substantiallyf along their respectiveaxes of adjustment 7 whereby during various positions of bladead-}i110-justmentthe centerline of each, blade -retains substantially the samerelative position to eachother. 1 l r 11. Thecombi'nation in a hydraulicI I around axes inclinedtothe runneriaxis, said incllned vaxes being[substantially 1n alignfme'nt with the longitudinal axes of the blades.E1320 T I 112} The combination-in a hydraulic turbine comprising a flowpassage, ,a runnerhavlng blades'disposed in said passage, meansjforsupporting said blades for ustmentaround axes inclined to the runneraxis, and meansGI/ for. whirling the fluid flowing-through saidturningfrom' a radial to an axial direction 9" so f {and bounded byrelatively smooth curving walls, vanes disposed in said radial portionfor whirling-theflow passing into said axial portion, and a runnerdisposed in said passage "provided-with blades spaced from said vanestoform a transition space therebetween, said runner having means for adjustably supporting said blades around inclined axes substantiallycoinciding With the blade axes.

14, The combination in a hydraulic turbine "runner comprising a hubcarrying blades,

and means whereby said blades are adapted to be rotatably adjustedincluding a tapered circular recess formed in said hub and acorrespondingly tapered circular disc carried by a blade for cooperationwith said recess, and means for holding said disc Within said recess andpermitting 'rotative adjustment of said blades; 1

115. The combination in a hydraulic turbine runner comprising a hubcarrying blades, and

'be'received Within said recess, and bolts ex 7 means vwhereby saidblades are adapted to be rotatably adjusted including a tapered circularrecess formed in said hub and a correspondingly tapered circular disccarried by a blade for cooperation With said recess, said disc having aseries of elongated openings "therein, and a series of bolts extendingthrough said-disc and threaded 1n said hub.

V 16. In a'hydraulic turbine runner, the combination comprising a hubsection carrying a blade section, and means permitting rotatableadjustment of said blade section, including a 'recess'formed in one or"said sections With a 85 smooth peripheral Wall, the other of saidsections having a cooperating disc adapted to tending through said bladesection for threaded engagement With the hub section.

17(The combination in a turbine having for imparting a whirlingcomponent to the -infibwing "fluid, and a runner comprising a centralhub portion having a relatively smooth and uniform contour constitutinga substantially smooth continuation ofthe Wall ot-said flow conduit,said hub having a series a of independently rotatable blade sectionsadjustably fitted in said hub and rotatably adjustable With relationthereto around axes in clined to a plane normal to the axis of therunner, said blade sections being disposed the same radial distance fromsaid conduit Wall I sitions.

for various adjustments of the blade sections, and a; circular serles ofbolts extendlng through said sections and engaging said hub-- to clampsaid sections in fixed adjusted po- LEWIS FERRY MOODY.

